This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ffeldman Surnames: Patton Thacker Colvin McCrosky Ray Martin Watson Hampton Kirk Davenport Gray Leaver Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.texas.counties.fannin/4177/mb.ashx Message Board Post: [I transcribed this from a photocopy of a newspaper obit. Unluckly there was no date or reference to which paper it was printed in.] One of Fannin's Early Native-Born Daughters, Dies She first saw light in the Republic of Texas - Born 1844 In 1839 there came from Kentucky a colony of emigrants who settled in different sections of Fannin and Collin counties. The Hampton and Patton families located on sections where sparkling water gurgled from living springs, and John M. Patton stopped at the mouth of Bois d' Arc creek where he and his young family stayed till 1844, when they located at Patton Springs, where Randolph is now located, and where he ran a small store for many years. Texas had just gained its independence when these families reached its uncharted domain and was still a republic when the headright was granted that described the metas and bounds of this new homestead. Their nearest neighbor was at Bonham, then a straggling village, protected by the blockhouse which afforded a rendezvous from marauding Indians. By a treaty the wild Red men were prohibited from trespassing on this territory, but then there were savage visitors who still felt that the settlers were intruders who deserved annihilation. Two children had been born in the Patton household, one of whom had died in infancy, and shortly after the pioneer cottage was builtbally logs, and consisting of a single room, a daughter was born on December 30, 1844, who was christened Susannah Elizabeth. Her mother was a daughter of Charles Hampton and wife, co-settlers in this community, who a little later moved to Collin county, and settled on Pilot Grove creek. This infant grew to maturity in this pioneer section, innocent of the advantages of present-day conveniences, but managed to secure the elements of an education, and being an inveterate reader she read every book on literature, history and kindred subjects that she could buy or borrow. The system of schools was as primitive as the section in which they were located, being supported by subscriptions. Her knowledge of early history was phoneminal, and her familiarity with the changes that occurred was remarkable. In early life she joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and by 1881 she joined the Methodist church with her husband, and remained a consistent member till her death, always being a loyal supporter of its institutions and doctrines. She was married to James R. Thacker, October 30, 1868, with whom she lived for forty-eight years, his death occurring December 2, 1916, exactly sixteen years before here death, which occurred December 2, 1932. She lived in Fannin county all her life, practically eighty-eight years, except one year in Collin county in 1871, and two years in Grayson county in 1881-2. In her girlhood one of the pastimes of the young folks was horseback riding, and she was familiar with the forests and prairies where luxarious varieties of wild flowers dressed the summer with riotous colors. The highways were broken with uncoutly surfaces, and the chief methods of travel was by ox teams or on Spanish ponies. Her eight-five years of life in this community had seen marvelous changes. She was among the first white children born in that section of the county. She was one of eleven children, ten of whom reached maturity. One brother, Charles Patton was a victium of the Civil War, and another Tom Patton, lived through the fratricidal conflict. A sister, Mrs Martha Kirk, died last spring at the age of eighty. She is survived by three brothers, N.B. Patton and L.K. Patton, at Randolph, and E.L. Patton of Duplex. Four sons and two duaghters, J.R. Thacker of Hamilton, B.W. Thacker of Hockley, E.O. Thacker of Houston and R.O. Thacker of Randolph, and Mrs. Cora Davenport of Kilgore and Miss Julia Thacker of Randolph, besides fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted at Randolph Sunday afternoon by Rev. Bob Oates of Randolph and the pastor of the Methodist church at Balley. A duet was sung by Leroy and Lonnie D. Martin of Whitewright, four and six sears old, great grandnephews. Pallbearers were nephews, C.W. and Jess Leaver, Frank and Varna Patton and Adolph Gray of Randolph and Lowell Watson of Whitewright. Among the out-of-town relatives present were, John R. Thacker of Hamilton, Glenn Thacker of Carter, Okla., E.O. Thacker and wife and Miss Mary Nester McCrosky of Houston, Dr. N.D. Hampton of Ector, H.U. Colvin of Elkins, Ark., D.C. Watson and wife, Lowell and Kellos Watson, Mrs. Clarence Martin and three sons, Leroy, Lonnie D. and Morris Ray of Whitewright, E. L. Patton of Duplex. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.